ARTICLE 3. Public Lands [50120. - 50130.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 3.
in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 50120. Section 50120.

The purchaser of public land unsold in any district at the date of filing of the by-laws of the district takes the land subject to the provisions of the by-laws, and the charges assessed in pursuance thereof.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 50121. Section 50121.

A purchaser of public lands within a district has all the rights and privileges enjoyed by the original signers of the by-laws of the district upon payment of all charges assessed against the land for the cost and expense of reclamation, with interest from the date such charges became due.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 50123. Section 50123.

When the board, or landowners in districts having no board, certify under oath to the board of supervisors and show to its satisfaction that the reclamation works are completed, or that two dollars ($2) per acre has been expended for reclamation works on swamp or overflowed lands purchased pursuant to an application filed with the State Lands Commission prior to September 19, 1939, the board of supervisors shall certify such facts to the State Lands Commission.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 50124. Section 50124.

The State Lands Commission, upon receipt of the certification from the board of supervisors, shall forward to the treasurer of each county in which any part of the district is situated a statement showing the amount paid by each purchaser, including interest.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 50126. Section 50126.

The county treasurer, upon receipt of the statement from the State Lands Commission showing the amounts paid by each purchaser of swamp and overflowed lands in the district, shall, after deducting all amounts chargeable against the lands in the district by reason of moneys drawn from the “swamp-land fund” of the county, pay the balance thereof pro rata to the original purchasers of land in the district, or their heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 50127. Section 50127.

No distribution of the “swamp-land fund” shall be made pursuant to Section 50126 while the district has an outstanding indebtedness represented by Controller’s warrants drawn on the State Treasury.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 50128. Section 50128.

When the purchasers of swamp and overflowed lands have paid for such lands in full, the board may allow a credit of one dollar ($1) per acre on any unpaid or future assessment levied for reclamation purposes on all other lands in the district.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 50129. Section 50129.

No credit shall be given, or agreed to be given, until the landowner has paid all assessments levied on the lands, with interest thereon at the rate of 7 percent per year from date of delinguency, and all judgments therefor in full, less the amount of such credit.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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